The Saving Country Music 2022 Song of the Year
We’ve already discussed the Single of the Year Nominees for 2022 and picked a winner. But now it’s time to get quiet and serious, and talk about those songs that are so well-composed, they have the capability of changing our lives or perspectives.
Picking the Saving Country Music Song of the Year winner has been especially excruciating here in 2022. Not only was there a strong field of initial nominees, no less than four songs emerged as front runners in the voting and discussion, with all of them basically receiving similar counts in the comments here and across social media.
So in some respects, we should consider these four top contenders ALL winners since they are all so strong, and any margin between them is razor thin. But to not entirely shirk making the difficult decision of who should end up on top, let’s present them all ranked from #4 to #1.
#4 Willi Carlisle – “Tulsa’s Last Magician
Those who’ve seen this whimsical and enthralling folk country storyteller from Arkansas in person will swear by the natural showmanship he exudes, the enchantment of the old traditional songs and tall tales he unearths, and the magnetism of the original songs he composes. Carlisle is like few things you will experience in music. His songs are strongly literary with rich characters, and his delivery is deeply compelling. The soul and authenticity inherent in Willi Carlisle’s music is emblematic in the song “Tulsa’s Last Magician” inspired after hanging out with a group of magicians in Florida, and exploring the idea of a decaying occupation.
#3 – Ian Noe – “Ballad of a Retired Man”
It should take a lifetime of living to compose a song like “Ballad of a Retired Man.” For Ian Noe, it only took 30 years, and his second record. “Ballad of a Retired Man” is a powerful moment born off a simple, fingerpicked melody and background organ underneath a story where where a Vietnam veteran and former road worker resolves himself to his fate in a way that makes us all ponder our mortality and the passage of time in an inescapably unsettling, but still strangely gorgeous and inviting manner.
#2 – Adeem The Artist – “Middle of a Heart”
We’re all instilled with a set of values (or lack thereof) and a range of habits through our upbringing, which like a pebble cast into still water, reverberate outwardly through the unfolding of our lives. The greatest virtue of “Middle of a Heart” is that Adeem leaves the moral of the song up for interpretation. Adeem tells the story, sketches the lines, and lets the personal lineage and upbringing of the individual audience member color them in. Adeem draws a perfect circle—or bullseye if you will—and then takes their best shot at not stopping a heart, but changing one through the work of music.
Saving Country Music’s 2022 Song of the Year
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Tommy Prine – “Ships in the Harbor”
We talk about pedigree often in country and roots music, because so often, music becomes a family business for many of our most beloved artists and their worthy offspring. But we’ve rarely if ever had a full circle, cross-generational moment encapsulated in a song quite like what John Prine’s son Tommy perfects in “Ships in the Harbor.”
Even more striking is that this is the very first song Tommy Prine ever professionally released in his career. Can a debut single really rise to be considered the best written song in a given year? Apparently it can be, and it just has. And if the truth be told, you may have to go back multiple years to find a song with a comparable emotional impact for the people with the patience to listen, and all the way to the very end of the song when the genius of the writing unfolds in utter brilliance.
With a poetic grace that doesn’t need a famous name to be compelling, Tommy Prine exquisitely encapsulates how all the happiness and grace in life—however enjoyable—is invariably fleeting. From the warmth of seeing a bluebird perched on a fence, to the unconditional love of a father, eventually it will go away due to the rhythms of life. As much as “Ships in the Harbor” is a lament on inevitability, it’s also a lesson to enjoy the sweet moments of life while we’re in the midst of them.
One of the greatest indicators of great writing and a great song is how it means different things to different people. Tommy Prine wrote “Ships in the Harbor” about the passing of his father specifically. Yet when you listen to this song, it can feel like it’s custom written for the passing of one of your parents or loved ones. A remarkable phenomenon has accompanied the release of this song. Whenever it’s shared, listeners feel compelling to share their own stories of loss, and how this song specifically helped them process or accept it.
Tommy Prine is the youngest son of John Prine who passed away in 2020 at the age of 73. Tommy learned how to fingerpick from his father, first picking up a guitar at the age of 10. But it wasn’t his father’s music that first inspired Tommy to get into singer/songwriter material at the ago of 17. It was Jason Isbell’s opus Southeastern.
Tommy Prine has released a second single called “Turning Stones,” and a debut album is expected from him in early 2023. But with one song, Tommy Prine has already accomplished what many musicians and songwriters work their entire careers to accomplish, which is to make such an indelible emotional connection with an audience, it’s impact lasts well beyond the present tense. His father did this at multiple moments throughout his career, and now Tommy has done it to start his.
RyanPD
December 28, 2022 @ 9:44 am
Those Prine and Noe tracks really hit me in my feels every single time.
Coat
December 28, 2022 @ 10:04 am
Really good song, definitely excited to listen to his debut album next year. That being said, Ian Noe released the 2022 Album of the Year. Listening to it now. Unbelievably poetic, powerful and beautiful.
JB-Chicago
December 28, 2022 @ 10:24 am
Great song even better live from about 20 feet away in a beautiful intimate quiet venue where you could hear a pin drop. Thank you Hey Nonny hope you bring him back soon!!!
Jake Cutter
December 28, 2022 @ 10:54 am
I think it’s a good song, but not sure about “song of the year.” The metaphor is pretty heavy handed to me, kinda like Middle of a Heart is heavy in tropes. And neither one of those is that special musically, to me at least. That said nothing else really jumps out at me. I guess from this list I’d go with Ian Noe.
I’d agree that Ships in the Harbor is a good start, and cool that it’s from John’s son. Would it have gotten any traction otherwise though?
Trigger
December 28, 2022 @ 11:17 am
Nobody else could have written and sang this song with the emotional impact that Tommy Prine could BECAUSE of who his father is. The weight of John Prine’s legacy is interwoven within this track. That is what makes it so unique. Would we be paying attention to Tommy Prine if he didn’t have a famous father? Of course not. But this song never would have been written if that was the case.
I had a whole spiel in here about how being the son or daughter of a famous artist is both a huge burden and asset that I’ve talked about before. Ultimately, music is a continuum, and Tommy Prine utilized that truth in a song that I personally witnessed changed people lives more than any other in 2022.
Jake Cutter
December 28, 2022 @ 11:20 am
Interesting, how did it change their lives?
Trigger
December 28, 2022 @ 11:39 am
A good place to see what kind of impact this song has had on people, and the reception it’s enjoyed is looking through the comments about it on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVBMNFap8Wc
Jake Cutter
December 28, 2022 @ 10:04 pm
Being weary of YouTube comments being substituted for your “personally witnessed” observations, I still read the first 50 or so and yes many people cried, cheered him on, and loved the song. None say it “changed their lives.” I’m really not trying to bag on the guy (or you) to be cynical or negative….I appreciate your opinion and these lists usually. Maybe I’m just a little disappointed that in such an allegedly great year for country music, of the “top 3” songs in the entire genre, according to my favorite critic, one has amateurishly sarcastic lyrics like “Mama’s gonna be so proud of me
God bless the USA.” And of the 3 (putting lyrics aside), 2 are straight up folk songs and one would be right at home on a 2000s singer songwriter compilation CD from Starbucks. How “adjacent” can something get and still have country in the name?
I get that a lot of commenters here and on YouTube like these songs, and you have to take that into consideration. But if this is the best of 2022 when “country” music is supposedly making a comeback, that popular opinion just makes it all the worse…IMO.
Trigger
December 28, 2022 @ 11:34 pm
Naming the Song of the Year is the most subjective and misunderstood thing I do all year, and I am okay with that. I added Single of the Year last year to satisfy the folks who wanted a broader song category, and I think that’s worked out very well. I’ve always said that genre is secondary in the Song category, and as long as the song fits within the greater roots category, I’m fine with it. It’s the writing we’re most concerned with. And in some respects it’s imperative that you take genre out of this decision because so often the most well-written song on an album is the one the artist or producer decides to strip down, slow down, and make into a folk ballad. You start excluding these songs, and you weaken the field.
Also, we came to these choices as a community. If it was up to me, I would have chosen “Scale These Walls” by Caroline Spence. It was the nominee I listened to the most. Incidentally, it was also probably one of the more country-sounding candidates. But it didn’t receive a single vote. Oh well.
Maybe I’m being a bit dramatic by saying “Ships In The Harbor” is changing people’s lives. But without question I have seen more positive and personal reaction to that song than any other not just this year, but in the last few years. I’m confident this was the right pick, and that presenting the finalists in this order was the only fair thing to do due to the closeness of the vote. If you think these songs are weak, I respect that. With these kinds of singer-songwriter compositions, they’re going to be more hit or miss with listeners.
Bill
December 29, 2022 @ 7:14 am
There was a vote? I guess I missed that. I do agree on Scale These Walls.
Bill
December 29, 2022 @ 7:55 am
Aha, Dec. 7. I guess I voted for Sunny with a side of Caroline. For me the female artists had a great year, just didn’t make the cut here.
Moses Mendoza
December 29, 2022 @ 1:34 pm
I know what you mean re: Ships in the Harbor, but I think the more I listen the more I find it’s one of those songs that’s perfect in its simplicity.
Jake Cutter
December 29, 2022 @ 10:40 pm
Yeah I’ve listened a few times…it’s a good song, but saying it’s the best in country music is a tall order, especially when sonically it sounds kind of like a Passenger song. I personally agree that Scale These Walls is better, but this seems to have been a popularity contest.
CountryKnight
December 28, 2022 @ 11:17 am
Adeem at #2.
Hahahahahahahaha.
It is April Fool’s Day?
King Honky Of Crackershire
December 28, 2022 @ 11:46 am
Trigger criticizes other journalists for signaling, but he does it too. Only, when Trigger does it, it’s not really signaling, because Trigger is Not Political™️.
As long as you are Not Political™️, it’s perfectly okay to make decisions about people, solely on the basis of their “victim status”.
Trigger
December 28, 2022 @ 1:01 pm
Adeem The Artist was not highlighted here due to his “victim status” or anything else. He was highlighted here because he released a song that according to not just myself, but the readers of this site in an analytical vote that others can feel free to go back and tabulate for themselves, was one of the best songs in 2022.
You (and others) continue to think that I believe that my name is in any way redeemable with individuals who see this website as a haven for racism, sexism, and homophobia. I don’t think including Adeem The Artist here will somehow resuscitate my standing with the “woke” media, I know it will hurt it if anything. The song was the basis for this decision.
Granted, there are people making decisions about this song based on the who, and not the what, and on both sides. But I am not one of them.
Ryan S
December 29, 2022 @ 6:28 pm
I really don’t get why some musicians, journalists, etc. whose opinions on some topics I respect seem to dislike you so much. Full disclosure, I’m not going to go investigate whatever started these arguments both because I think that’s weird for someone who’s basically an interested bystander and I don’t think we should have to go through everyone’s online history to form an opinion of their character.
I’ve seen you called a racist, bigot, homophobe and a misogynist but nothing I’ve read from you since I started following this site, whether in social media, articles or comments, has been any of those things. I don’t agree with all of your views about music nor those about society and politics in general, such as I can gather from your statements at least. But nothing like slurs or offensive stereotypes. Are these people saying this because you disagree with them in relatively minor ways? Because you’re certainly not out here saying country music is just for straight, white American macho men and the biological females who love them. And I can’t imagine all your critics exactly agree with one another on every issue.
Hell I follow Tyler Mahan Coe on Twitter because I loved Cocaine and Rhinestones and he seems to hate you. Unfortunately his presentation of himself on social media is far less professional than on his podcast so I’d hesitate to ask him why because of the scathing response I’m sure I could expect. So many people live online and think someone who wasn’t aware of some happening is asking questions in bad faith and trying to troll rather than being curious and not wanting to wade through mountains of posts to find out what’s going on. It’s just weird. Sorry if this was a bit much or too personal.
Trigger
December 30, 2022 @ 12:10 am
The way my review of Adeem The Artist’s album was presented to both Adeem and the media echo chamber on Twitter was by the journalist Lorie Liebig (who professes to never read this site) specifically screenshotting all of the constructive criticism in the review, and specifically avoiding all of the praise for Adeem’s music (which was the majority of the review), then posting it on Twitter, and commanding people to NOT come to the site for the full context, because this would give me clicks. She also sent these screenshots directly to Adeem, and that is how Adeem read my take on the album, NOT my album review with all the context, praise, and nuance presented as I published it. Adeem confirmed this in the Twitter thread about the review.
It’s by erasing the nuance and detail with which I approach subjects, utilizing opportunistic pull quotes, and portraying me as an open racist/misogynist/homophobe that rival journalists who feel the only way they can get traction in their career is by destroying or undermining others have orchestrated a canard that Saving Country Music is pure unadulterated evil. At this point, it is fashion and signaling to say that Saving Country Music sucks, because that will gain them clout on Twitter. It has gotten so ridiculous, the mere mention of my name results in the most severe swells of rage and bile for some to the point of utter insanity. I have seen professional journalists and academics act like base middle schoolers when it comes to my attempts at meaningful, heterodox discussions about important subjects, while also chanting the mantra, “Don’t read SCM! Don’t read SCM!” because they have so little confidence in their arguments, they’re full of abject fear at the idea of the public being presented ideas that challenge their consensus orthodoxy.
As you point out here, simply reading Saving Country Music catastrophically undermines the assertions of a lot of these journalists, and artists trying to get on the good side of them. That’s why they tell people to not read. The idea that I’m anything but a music nerd who in my Adeem The Artist review simply offered dispassionate, objective, and constructive criticism of his music amid high praise for the purpose of helping to hopefully breed understanding across hardened ideological lines is patently absurd. I completely understand if people disagree with my opinions, and I actively solicit for criticism of my work, and offer a forum for it in this very comments section. The idea that I am solely criticizing Adeem because I’m a raging transphobe is ridiculous. A raging transphobe just ignores Adeem, and acts like they don’t exist. The whole reason people even know I exist among these ideological echo chambers is because I am actively broaching the difficult subjects of identity and country music, and have been championing diversity in country music for going on 15 years. For many years I was a leader in this space, and the sole voice. And since now these journalists and academics want to be the only voices allowed to speak, my voice must be exterminated. If they have to mischaracterize or outright lie to do it, so be it.
The good news is that it’s not working. In fact, it’s counter-productive to their cause. And when you try to point this out to them through things like the attempted cancellation of Morgan Wallen that only made him more popular, for example, they scream that you’re trying to defend him, and paint you as a racist even more. Their unchecked rage and arrogance is blinding them to pragmatic solutions, or taking realistic stock of situations.
As for Tyler Mahan Coe, he’s just a raging narcissist. I thought the first season of Cocaine & Rhinestones was brilliant, and wrote two articles promoting it, and helped light the fire of the viral event that helped bring it to prominence. Then to gain clout on Twitter–and because he saw me as a rival—he started randomly attacking me, and others. Since then, he’s just become an embarrassment. Now he’s claiming the new George & Tammy series is a direct ripoff of him, as if he owns the rights to the life of George Jones and Tammy Wynette more than their own daughter.
I think Tyler Mahan Coe is a brilliant guy, and I hope he finds some perspective and equilibrium in the future. But like so many people who spend too much time on Twitter and social media, he needs to get out, touch grass, and stop believing that tearing others down will make you feel better about yourself, because it never will. There’s too much hate in the world to be engaging in the kind of business so many are obsessed with on Twitter and social media. They’ve forgotten why we all got into talking about music in the first place. It’s because we’re ALL music fans, and are differences aren’t nearly as big as our similar interests. We’re supposed to be fighting Music Row and the industry, not each other.
Trigger
December 30, 2022 @ 9:02 am
BTW, I am looking into the accusations by Tyler Coe that “George & Tammy” is plagiarizing him. If they did that, that’s not cool. But similar to what I said when Rich O’Toole accused Zach Bryan of stealing his song, if you have a credible accusation about such things, you don’t take to social media, you get an IP lawyer. People would be astounded how much Saving Country Music has been directly and verifiably ripped off, and I have successfully taken legal action to solve it. I have never taken to social media to make a public spectacle of it because 1) it hurts your cause 2) You can be accused of slander in a countersuit.
Di Harris
December 30, 2022 @ 8:58 am
@Ryan, and Trigger,
Hope it is Ok, if i hop into your guys conversation.
Lorie LieBig, is your typical person lacking in talent, integrity, and intellect.
She is a dime a dozen bully, who(m) because she lacks self esteem, goes for the jugular, & the kill. Thereby, receiving accolades from her audience who also lack self esteem, & direction.
Continuing with the story of how in Nashville, in Aug. ’20, our car was surrounded, two blocks off Broadway (at least they tried) by the desperate woke protestors, protesting __________, pick a topic …
When one of their corner sentries, signalled by waving a white poster board, that she determined we were an easy mark, the crowd walked into the street.
Drove right through them. Lots of screaming, yelling, cursing, by the protestors.
Applied the brakes. Waiting.
Because i had two friends with,
did not get out and slap the Holy hell out of one of those fine upstanding citizens. Get the party started.
This is the Lorie LieBig crowd.
Very easily led because they lack a sense of direction.
They are lazy wannabes. Degenerates.
There will always be an overabundance of these people.
Because, it is much easier to group think/crowd frenzy, than put in the blood sweat & tears, and accomplish something that will help your fellow man.
Jake Cutter
December 30, 2022 @ 10:32 pm
@ Trigger….Man I just meandered over to her feed. Never would have guessed that someone so completely obsessed with Brittany Aldean, Morgan Wallen, shitting on everyone she disagrees with, and posting pictures of herself…would have such an insightful and open to feedback review of the album:
“the album is great – the end.”
She’s a peach.
King Honky Of Crackershire
December 30, 2022 @ 9:20 pm
Trig,
To be clear, I no longer believe that you’re signaling to the communists. I used to believe that; I used to believe you wanted them to like you, but something inside you just would not let you take things as far as they do. About a year ago or so, it occurred to me that I had your motives wrong; I realized, that you’re a true believer. You’re a naïve, true believer in all the things the communists only pretend to believe so that they can destroy.
When I say you’re signaling, I don’t mean you’re signaling to the communists; I mean that you are signaling to society in general, that you’re friendly to the causes of the left(even though you don’t call it left). You hide that(probably subconsciously or unintentionally) behind being Not Political™, but anything related to ideas about what we should all believe, and how we should all live, is inherently political. If enough people believe something strongly enough, they have the power to force compliance from those who don’t, at gunpoint.
The communist goes: “You must have absolutely this opinion, and no other opinion, about this thing, or you are my mortal enemy.”
You go: “Come on guys, I know society isn’t as progressive and advanced as it needs to be, but being hateful to these backwards people won’t make them change. If I continue to promote the music of performers like Adeem, I really believe I can change these people’s minds about this stuff. I really believe I can get them to let go of their backwards ways of thinking.”
You speak about fundamental, objective truths, regarding science, biology, nature, and the universe, as though they are something standing in the way of progress; as beliefs that advanced people should let go of. If I’m wrong about you, then you definitely need to work on how you communicate things.
You prove me right though, every time you use communist propaganda terms like “homophobe” or “transphobe”. Communists made those terms up, by changing the definition of “phobia”, so that they could label their political enemies and advance their religion; the words “homophobe” and “transphobe” have no applicable definition otherwise. Even someone who openly hates homosexuals, or, acknowledges it’s sinfulness, or someone who acknowledges that gender dysphoria is a mental illness, doesn’t have an irrational fear of those people.
Somewhere in this comments section, you referred to Rainbow Nationalists as “marginalized”. It’s like you’ll believe anything if they say it long enough. I get it; you really believe that. I’m saying you have no reason to believe it, other than it’s the zeitgeist, of which you are an unwitting victim.
Anyway, I intentionally waited a few days to leave this reply, so that it wouldn’t start a long thread. I just wanted you to know what I meant.
Trigger
December 31, 2022 @ 9:31 am
The reason Adeem the Artist’s “Bullet In A Heart” was highlighted here was:
1) It’s a good song.
2) Many people in the SCM community said they believed it was the best, or one of the best songs in 2022.
Even before the nomination process, multiple people left comments in this very comments section saying they believed “Bullet In A Heart” was the Song of the Year. So when the nomination process came along, I included it with nine other tracks. Over a multi-week period, people were asked to leave their opinions about which song they thought should win. Not only did a large share of people pick “Bullet In A Heart,” nobody piped up to say they believed it shouldn’t win, and why. All the people complaining in this comments section, and liking the comments of others saying this pick was pure virtue signaling, where where they when feedback was being solicited from the public? What did they vote for? If they didn’t like any of the nominees, what did they write in? Or did they just sit on the sidelines, and now they’re bitching at the outcome?
I don’t want to completely remove myself from the process. Ultimately, I pick the winners, and the nominees. But as I explained on numerous occasions, the field was so close in this instance, the feedback of readers weighed heavy in this decision this year.
I completely understand what you’re saying about the subconscious weighing of circumstances, and how that can factor into decisions. I certainly don’t like being called racist or a transphobe, etc., even if I know it’s not true, and even if you or others may not think those words have any meaning. It’s still not fun. And I’m not going to act like that can’t affect decision making, because of course it can.
But I have literally written into the business model of Saving Country Music to NOT factor in public sentiment into what I chose to cover on this site, or how. My utmost effort is to be honest, regardless of how the public regards it. That’s how I’ve gotten here, that is why folks want to read my opinion, and that principle remains a guiding light beneath everything I do.
And let’s just appreciate that Adeem the Artists didn’t even win Song of the Year. This is all a huge distraction from a song remembering the death of John Prine written by his son. You may not like that song either, and I respect that. But folks should have let their opinions be known when they were asked to share them.
I’m really satisfied how this process played out. Song of the Year is always misunderstood by large swaths of people despite my best efforts to explain it. And if you’re unsatisfied with these results, perhaps next year you should participate in the process, and you may be happier with the results.
Ryan S
December 31, 2022 @ 8:13 am
Thanks for responding. I didn’t get a “Reply” button so I figured I’d leave it here. It sounds like you’re in the classic position of a moderate getting hit by the extremes. Because I do think your work is nuanced and takes a lot more subtle distinctions into account that others ignore either for the sake of brevity or to make something more exciting or more clear-cut than it truly is.
I mean do people not see that attempting to stifle legitimate artistic criticism because of the artist’s identity is a form of pandering and is paternalistic in nature? Or can they not parse the difference between a real critique and simple hate? Sure a person could start out writing reasonable things then become more extreme while advancing a hidden agenda, that’s how radicalization works, but you’re a critic not a political leader and that’s not what’s happening here. Suspecting people who disagree with you of having ulterior motives is paranoia and takes way more evidence than out of context quotes.
I have thought before that you’ve been a bit hard on the journalists and such on social media since, in my mind, them chasing the latest trend is to be expected and kind of their job. But if you’ve received such unpleasant personal attacks from those people I understand better how you’ve got to that point.
Your criticism of Adeem’s lyrics was spot on in that it’s a contradiction for them to say they want to change hearts and minds then go about it in the most confrontational way possible. I don’t care that they want to vent their anger in song, more power to them and if more people did the same we might have a lot less shootings and such. But it’s counterproductive to their stated goals and is no more than a momentary emotional release at best. To me the best, most life-changing (internally) music has been songs that have made me see myself through the eyes of others. That’s the kind of thing that can cause change and growth. Hearing you or people like you caricaturized out of recognition, even if it doesn’t anger you, has no chance to bring on the self-reflection needed to accomplish that.
Anyway this is running long and meandering a bit so I’ll finish up by saying that I enjoy your work and hope you keep it up no matter what life throws your way so thanks for all that. Also that things will get better. Extremism, no matter the variety, works in cycles so eventually both sides will go off the deep end and all the sane people left in the middle realize they’re better off without the crazy ideologues. We’ve just got to hold on and avoid the pitfalls of going all in on any kind of dogma. That’s for dogs to bark over, we’re humans who can learn, arrive at opinions, change them if the facts change and discuss our differences like reasonable adults.
Jake Cutter
December 28, 2022 @ 1:58 pm
In fairness, he didn’t do the 50/50 gender split l or quota you see everywhere else. Though even that gets more “complicated” these days.
JD2
December 28, 2022 @ 8:07 pm
Adeem’s someone who wasn’t on my radar until the year end list. After listening to the finalists, their song really became one of my most frequent spins and I think it deserved this spot. I would probably put it just behind Ian Noe for my personal song of the year. I’m not sure why politics have anything to do with taking one song for what it is.
Strait86
December 29, 2022 @ 10:34 am
I’ve listened to more of his songs. I probably like his song “Books and Records” the most. He does have a good voice and comes up with good melodies. Lyrically I have the same criticism with him that I do with Zach Bryan; many of his lyrical ideas are kinda dumb.
I’m sure Adeem wants to increase the reach of his music and his revenue stream but it’s silly to expect someone like me to join his ranks when he’s often openly hostile to someone with my beliefs. It’s akin to telling a black friend to listen to this white supremacist band because the music is THAT good. I can’t stand early 00’s Jingoistic Toby Keith type country music, but there weren’t complaints towards liberals for not listening to that music more and buying those albums.
Trigger
December 29, 2022 @ 11:15 am
See, this is the reason all media in America is aligned either to the left or the right. Because if you shirk the political binary, you’re left on an island, and will be attacked by both sides with no allies to defend you.
My review of Adeem’s album, which was a 7.5/primarily positive review got absolutely trounced by Adeem, along with basically the entirety of country/Americana media, and used as a vector to attempt to destroy my credibility in its entirety, and cancel Saving Country Music forevermore, basically for saying exactly what you’re saying here, and pointing out how his efforts will be rendered ineffective with the people he was looking to target.
Meanwhile on the right, I’m getting waylaid for even discussing Adeem’s music, or having the audacity to include a song here when in this instance, I was basically performing a perfunctory task of counting votes, though I definitely concur that it’s a good song.
If you don’t like Adeem’s music or message, that’s totally your right. But I do wish people would recognize that I’m just trying to focus on the music first, and call balls and strikes as I see them. If I have an agenda, it’s to rid political polarization from the music space so it can be more effective in changing hearts through story and allegory, which is something I’ve been consistently championing for over 15 years now.
Strait86
December 29, 2022 @ 11:42 am
You are conflating “cancelling” with criticism. I don’t believe they/them gender ideology.
In a comment on the earlier Adeem article you wrote in the comment section “All I’m trying to say is that perhaps that’s an ineffective way in engaging with people who think different from you, opening their mind to different thoughts or perspectives.”
If they are just different thoughts and different perspectives then you should feel no negative emotion about me not sharing his same beliefs around gender. You must also not understand what “vague implication’ means because you asked me to produce a direct quote. So answer me this, what are your gut reactions to me saying that I don’t share Adeem’s gender beliefs?
Strait86
December 29, 2022 @ 11:45 am
Why would someone have to ” open their mind to different thoughts or perspectives.” if there was no moral implication being made for them to? You skirt the accusation of bigotry towards your dissenting readers then reel back when confronted on it and cry “cancel culture.” NO, if you are gonna imply the accusation just fucking say it, and don’t close the comment sections like a little bitch boy.
Trigger
December 29, 2022 @ 1:34 pm
You’re conflating two separate concerns.
1) Adeem The Artist has stated that he wants to change hearts, minds, and perspectives through his music. It is my job as an objective critic to not pass judgement upon that goal, but to offer criticism on how he is failing to do so, as your comments illustrate. So what I said in my review was (and I’m paraphrasing), “If you want to change hearts, minds, and perspectives, you also cannot pass severe judgement upon these people, and participate in stereotyping of Southern people.”
This has nothing to do with my personal feeling on the matter of pronouns, etc.
2) On a personal level, I don’t have a problem using someone’s preferred pronouns, and I did so with Adeem in my review. I’m not making a judgement call there, I’m simply deciding to focus on the music as opposed to getting embroiled in a sticky and politically-charged subject. Adeem was insulted enough by my review apparently. No need to insult the guy inadvertently.
Do I also see the silliness of people wanting to draft 64 different preferred pronoun groups, and making it obligatory on society to know each one of them and how they’re supposed to be used in context, and screaming at them if they don’t and calling them insensitive transphobes? Of course I do, just like I take issue with certain artists claiming they’re “queer” while they’re currently in committed heterosexual relationships, and are not victims of marginalization like true members of the LGBT community.
This is a very convoluted issue that society is currently grappling with, and I think we should all be able to speak about it in the open and discuss it, pros and cons. But I’m doing what I can to divest these discussions from the music itself.
Strait86
December 29, 2022 @ 5:25 pm
I had no idea that Adeem was insulted by your article. It’s hard not to find that deeply hilarious. You weren’t unfair to him at all.
A bearded man in lipstick and women’s jewelry is a relatable to me as a 50 yr old man singing trucker songs is to a 20-something woman. The fact that neither is blowing up on the radio is more a testament to the lack of universal sex appeal than it is LGBT related oppression. Sex appeal sells.
No one is entitled to be listened to. The old adage is largely true that men listen to artists they want to be, on some level, and women listen to artists they’d like to sleep with. Again on some level. Some truly great artists have songs that transcend all this and speak to a common element in people. Such as Elton John and Queen. None of their songs forced the listener to change any beliefs.
I even gave Orville Peck a chance. (But I couldn’t 100% get into him. But I’ll go back eventually.)
But I guess people laughing at They/Them pronouns is a sort of “Vietnam war” equivalent experience for some.
Moses Mendoza
December 29, 2022 @ 11:24 am
Which of your beliefs is Adeem openly hostile toward?
Strait86
December 29, 2022 @ 12:19 pm
I don’t know much about his interview quotes or social media posts but in his lyrics he pines for a leftist takeover of his town, and he labels himself a Marxist in Cast-iron Pansexual.
I’m familiar with the general ire from that side for someone being a Trump supporter who hasn’t had a covid vaccine and doesn’t agree with the latest iteration of gender ideology. I also believe in private property and for landlords to exist – those beliefs are antithetical to Marxist thought.
Moses Mendoza
December 29, 2022 @ 1:06 pm
I think he’s probably articulating his own belief set as opposed to expressing hostility towards you or anyone else. I think the song you reference specifically is trying to express that there’s a plurality of belief represented in southern identity. Anyway I get criticism of his music that would find it too topical or anthemic in a political way. Even if you feel strongly about the issue, it’s difficult to be moved by one more song about x. What confuses is me is this aggrieved response (broadly, that’s not specific to your reply) to it I keep seeing whenever he’s mentioned on here. Thanks for taking the time to respond.
Coat
December 29, 2022 @ 4:02 pm
The only way to “dismantle white supremacy entirely” is to impose a 19th century European political ideology. 20th century regimes, of which, murdered upward of 100 million people. No, I’m not talking about Max Stirner’s Individualist Egoism. I claim to “be” a Marxist, but I also probably own a house filled with shit made by slaves in Chinese factories, and I lock my doors at night. Comrade, I need to use our car for a couple of years, see you tomorrow.
Strait86
December 29, 2022 @ 12:24 pm
I should have worded “openly hostile” differently in regards to his own lyrics because I cannot draw a direct quote. His worldview is very different from mine and the direct presentation of his opposing political and social ideas is not going to persuade me to listen to those songs no matter how good his voice sounds. It’s a problem with veering too much towards “on the nose.”
Strait86
December 29, 2022 @ 11:00 am
One final thought: I 100% reject the article’s vague implication that if I do not 100% accept the current parameters and definitions (not that there are any) of gender identity, then I am not as good of a person and am in need of some sort of redemption.
Never-mind that there is literal slavery and child slavery going on today at the bottom of the supply chain for cobalt in the Congo. Colbalt is an essential element in rechargeable batteries that we all have in our phones and that is in the vast majority of electric cars.
Trigger
December 29, 2022 @ 11:05 am
” I 100% reject the article’s vague implication that if I do not 100% accept the current parameters and definitions (not that there are any) of gender identity, then I am not as good of a person and am in need of some sort of redemption.”
When the fuck did I say that? I have chosen to not focus on gender at all when it comes to judging music, and I would suggest the audience do the same, because otherwise you’re placing a limitation on your musical experience. But I am not judging the character of anyone here.
Derrick
December 28, 2022 @ 11:35 am
Great picks. Gun to my head I’d pick Adeem or Carlisle, but this year really could have any of five or ten songs at the top and I couldn’t disagree. Really good year for music.
If anybody hasn’t heard one of these songs (or albums) yet, do yourself a favor and go listen.
Tom Turkey
December 28, 2022 @ 11:36 am
Ian Noe and Willi are my one and two. The others are decent tunes but not in the same tier for me. All That said it been a hell of a year for good music that I love.
Jim Bones
December 28, 2022 @ 12:30 pm
4 incredible songs. I’m rocking with Adeem and Willi for my top 2 but think this is the perfect top 4. I’d toss in Black Umbrella by Anna Tivel to make it an even 5, even though it’s not really country at all. Damn these are some good songs
TRJPA”GLA”R
hoptowntiger94
December 28, 2022 @ 12:56 pm
I love all these songs and I can not argue against “Ships in the Harbor” being SCM Song of the Year. But, one song that I absolutely love (and my favorite from 2022) that I’m surprised I don’t see it at least in the comments is Whiskey Myers, “Heart of Stone.”
Tom
December 28, 2022 @ 1:32 pm
IAN👍
Bill
December 29, 2022 @ 7:22 am
Absolutely. Ian’s “intense” delivery style nails it so often.
TheGarMan
December 28, 2022 @ 1:38 pm
Great list. After one listen each, I’ll go with Willi Carlisle – “Tulsa’s Last Magician” – Thanks all your efforts on not only this list, but another great year here.
mary hayden
December 28, 2022 @ 2:51 pm
Beautiful song.
Lucinda Chilliams
December 28, 2022 @ 3:33 pm
I’m having trouble figuring out the distinction between your “Song” and “Single” of the year — You’re making the distinction for slower/sadder songs, or one of them was based on commenter feedback or not?
Anyway, these are my favorite country tracks for 2022, some of which I found through this blog, so thanks for that. I was also happily able to catch about half of these artists live this year. 49 Winchester was especially memorable with Adam Bolt playing an awesome opening set.
I didn’t find any coverage for Angel Olsen, but thought her album is worth a mention. Even though she’d be historically associated more with indie rock/folk, she moved to the Blue Ridge Mountains a few years ago and I think her band has evolved into playing some really beautiful traditional country music. The album does veer back and forth between more straightforward rock/chamber pop but no more so than several universally recognized country classics, IMO. Anyway, all that to say the title track from her latest album was just gorgeous and *almost* my favorite if not for Zach Bryan having been so dang prolific and providing so many good options to pick from.
10. Lainey Wilson, “Wildflowers and Wild Horses”
09. Midland, “Sunrise Tells the Story”
08. Ian Noe, “Lonesome As it Gets”
07. Plains, “Abilene”
06. Abby Webster, “Tall Boy”
05. Arlo McKinley, “Stealing Dark from the Night Sky”
04. Ashley McBryde, “Lindeville”
03. 49 Winchester, “Russell County Line”
02. Angel Olsen, “Big Time”
01. Zach Bryan, “Younger Years”
RyanPD
December 28, 2022 @ 7:52 pm
Tall Boy isn’t new, it’s been out for a few years now.
Lucinda Chilliams
December 28, 2022 @ 9:18 pm
whoops! sub “waxahachie” by Miranda Lambert then, which was probably even better on last year’s Marfa Tapes, but that opening pair of lines makes it strong enough to shine regardless of any production options.
Trigger
December 28, 2022 @ 8:14 pm
Song of the Year is primarily based upon the compositional prowess and originality of the song itself, and needs to be something where at least the effort is to have a stunning impact on the audience. Nobody is going to listen to “Ships In The Harbor” over and over as an earworm. It’s about what the song accomplishes.
Single of the Year is more about the overall appeal of the song as something you might listen to over and over. The Single of the Year can also be well-written, but melody, infectiousness, performance, etc. are more important.
I understand these distinctions might be difficult to grasp, but this is only the second year I’ve done a Single of the Year, and it was due to so many people complaining that all the Song of the Year candidates were too sappy and (often, but not always) slow and quiet.
Audience participation very much registers in both the nominees, and the winners. As I’m reviewing albums and songs throughout the year, I’m making notes about songs that stand out not just to me, but to readers in comments. That is why this comments section is so important. Some want me to abolish it, but it’s such a great tool for discovering stuff I may have missed, seeing how the public is reacting to certain pieces of music or artists, and debating the merits of songs and albums. It can be noisy and unruly at times, but I find it invaluable.
Lucinda Chilliams
December 28, 2022 @ 9:21 pm
Thanks for clarifying. I enjoy the comments section here for the most part largely for folks expounding on your articles to add their own recs, etc.
Ronnie
December 28, 2022 @ 5:07 pm
I love the song. I really like how he doesn’t ape his dads style but you still hear slight tics and mannerisms slip through.
Paige
December 28, 2022 @ 6:13 pm
When I clicked on the article my first thought was damn, wish Willi had placed higher (as one of his biggest fans). Then I read through and agreed with the picks, and especially Tommy Prine. There are only so many artists who impact and have a song that is closely interwoven with remembering them. For many Cash fans it’s Hurt (though I personally am a big ole sucker for Singer of Songs as recorded on Unearthed). I’m very grateful that Tommy gave us a way to commemorate John. I’ve always felt close to his lyrics as a Kentuckian and the best friend of a Muhlenberg County native. It’s something special to be let into a person eulogy.
JB
December 28, 2022 @ 7:26 pm
Loving all the year end posts. It’s hard to keep up with all the new music, but due to both the natural passage of time and the “Covid affect” of some of my favorite artists to see live to have seemingly slowed down (Lee Ann Womack: I did a Bible Belt road trip once just to see you live, I would do it again!), I feel like I need to make more of an effort re new music for 2023.
Speaking of, I thought going to the Mile 0 Key West festival might be a good way to do this (or at least a start). Max budget is around $2k – anyone know if that’s doable?
As for song of the year, like I said, I’m kinda living in the past so…I will say, I love the Bill Anderson/Dolly Parton song (and why that got nominated for a Grammy but NOT for country just shows that it’s not about the music itself in terms of classification but the music industry/marketing).
Trigger
December 28, 2022 @ 8:22 pm
Mile 0 Fest is a great festival, but very expensive. The only way I’ve been able to swing it is because I have a place to park an RV, and can swing a press pass. They have a phone number you can call where they can line you up with packages and work with your budget. I’d call it and see what they can do for you.
And if you can’t swing it, there are so many festivals these days, hopefully there is one that will suit you.
Jason Adam
December 28, 2022 @ 9:50 pm
No question. Great choice.
ToddzOlsen
December 30, 2022 @ 1:13 pm
Books and records is the best track on that Aden the artist record.
Ryan
December 30, 2022 @ 3:06 pm
Great list 🙂
Faith
January 1, 2023 @ 11:17 am
Jelly Roll will be on this a year from now